Compact, all-optical spectrum analyzer for chemical and biological fiber optic sensors
AssigneeCeramOptec Industries, Inc.
InventorSergej G. Krivoshlykov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical spectrum analyzer based on optical processing of the far field interference pattern from two beams irradiated by light transmitting waveguides is described. The spectrum analyzer can operate in UV, VIS, NIR and MIR ranges of spectrum and it can be based on either optical fibers (multimode or single-mode) or integrated optical waveguides. It has many important applications, for example, as a simple, compact and inexpensive spectrum analyzer used with fiber optic chemical and biological sensors.
Claims20
A compact, all-optical spectrum analyzer for use with fiber optic chemical sensors and biological sensors comprising:
- means of accepting and delivering a signal light beam whose spectrum contains information about a chemical or biological species, being detected, and whose spectrum is to be analyzed;
- a beam splitter accepting said signal light beam and splitting it into two output beams of substantially equal intensity and creating a far field interference pattern from said two output beams without using gratings;
- an optical means for performing a Fourier transform of a far field interference pattern from said two output beams and projecting said interference pattern as an optical image into a Fourier transform plane;
- an optical detector, said detector having means to select at least one section of said optical image within said Fourier transform plane;
- and
- means to analyze said optical image without computer analysis, on a real time scale, and to detect a chemical or biological species.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.